Oneida accepts Stoneleigh Housing bid for empty lot

ONEIDA - On Friday, the Common Council accepted a $100,000 purchase offer for a vacant 5 acre parcel on North Warner Street where Stoneleigh Housing intends to build a $7.5 million housing complex.

The council revisited the proposal at its budget meeting Friday evening after holding off on a decision at its meeting Tuesday. The offer is more than double what the property is assessed for but Stoneleigh Housing Executive Director Bob Napoli says that's what the affordable housing agency feels is fair market value.

With plans to build four buildings on the parcel, with 40 units in total, the complex is intended to be "affordable workforce housing" and will be aimed at renting to individuals who make no more than 60 percent of the area's median income. In this instance, that means people earning between $15,575 and $46,080 would be eligible, depending on family and unit size.

Rent will be based on the tenant's salary, requiring renters to pay at least 25 percent of their income to rent, but no more than 48 percent. That translates to rental costs ranging in price from $636 to $980. Napoli said they will be required by law to accept those with Section 8 subsidies but those with temporary HUD subsidies will likely not qualify to rent apartments at the proposed complex.

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"This isn't old standard government housing," Napoli said.

A preliminary market study indicated there's a sufficient need for at least 60 affordable apartments in Oneida, he said.

Attached to the purchase offer for the parcel is an agreement with several contingencies to the deal. City Attorney Nadine Bell objected to some of the wording in that agreement, including language that would bind the city to be cooperative in Stoneleigh's request to change zoning.

"The city can't make any promises," she said, explaining that the purchase offer and things like zoning changes and site plan review are separate issues.

The kinks in the agreement will need to be worked out by the city attorney and Stoneleigh's. For the deal to work, Stoneleigh has to successfully change the parcel's zoning from light industrial to residential, get through an environmental review of the land with no major hiccups and receive federal funding for the project. The city will need Stoneleigh to agree to provide an easement for infrastructure and a boundary line adjustment to accommodate a turn-around dead-end instead of extending Liberty Street to North Warner.

Ward 2 Councilman Max Smith was concerned about the longevity of the upkeep of the building's appearance over time but praised Stoneleigh for its plans to develop on the north side of the city, something the community has largely lacked the motivation to do. While Ward 5 Councilman Jim Chamberlain said he's heard some public opposition to the project, he said residents are misunderstanding the scope of the project, one he supports and views as positive.

Ward 1 Councilman Brahim Zogby expressed interest in reviewing Stoneleigh's market study, questioning the demand for apartments that could cost almost $1,000. He also questioned whether the parcel has been actively marketed to other developers as a site for other projects. He abstained from the vote on the purchase offer, saying he was uncomfortable moving forward until he had more information on the property's potential.

Meanwhile, the city attorney and Stoneleigh's attorney will work together to forge an agreement for the future of the parcel.